Foldable closure



3 Sheets-Sheet l R A. BRENNER l' AL FOLDABLE CLOSURE Filed Jan. 17, 1945 June 2 7, 1950 June 27, 1950 R. A. BRENNER ErAL FOLDABLE cLosuRE .om El 1 MWL.. 8

WEI .I

" ""\""L w n Patented June 27, 1950 FOLDABLE CLOSURE Ray A. Bremer and Carroll T. Lenox, New Castle, William A. Shearer, Indianapolis, and Carroll F. Van Buskirk and Ernest R. Watkins, New Castle, Ind., assignors, by mesne assignments, to New Castle Products, Inc., New'Castle, Ind.,

a corporation Application January 1v, 1945, serial No. 573,295/

4 Claims.

door and partition use.

One chief object of this invention is to provide 4a closure of the character indicated and of a materially less number. of parts than that required by comparable closures.

Another chief object of this invention is to provide in such a closure, which may be covered upon opposite sides, a crossed hinge framework and devoid of lazy tongs and like levers.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved connection between such hinge framework and the covering material.

Still A.a further object of this arrangement is to provide, in association with an overhead supporting trackway, a trolley connector between the closure proper and trackway whereby the closure interchangeably may be utilized with a so-called concealed or exposed trackway.

Other objects and features of the invention will be set forth more fully hereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawing and the following description and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a single closure for an opening vprovided with an overhead trackway of exposed type, the closure being shown in closing position, parts being broken away, and

some parts being shown in section, the covering,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig.'2L and of the` same* parts, the entire closure being shown in collapsed position.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the selectively connectible lead post trolley Iand associated trackway and lead post.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an trolley yoke.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of a trackway and intermediate trolley and yoke.- Fig. 'l is a perspective view of the trolley connecting yoke, r

Fig. 8 is 4a transverse sectional view ofthe same, the associated trolley and trackway, the--connector being shown in elevation. f

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional viewfof a hinge plate, the cover, and the connection therebetween. v 1

In certain ofthe gures,-|0 indicates a socalled exposed channel overheadA track with inwardly directed lower flange H- orminggflive lead post.

I2. In other ilgures,l I III indicates a similar channel of the concealed type. By this is meant the track is nested in a groove and the groove or slot H2 is exposed.

The track, in either case supports a lead post trolley A, see Figs. 1, 4 and 8, and one or more intermediate trolleys B, see Figs. 1 and 6. These are connected to the closure proper as hereinafter specied. The rear post may have a slot seated projection C, see Fig. 1, to insure proper positioning of the rear post D.

This rear post includes vertical channel I3 to which is secured the clip connector I4, detachably associated with a clip socket I5 secured to one sidewall I6 of the opening to be closed by the closure.

The opposite wall I1 mounts'a grooved member I8 that engages clip member I9 carrying cushion contact member 20, these being carried by tube 2|, same comprising the lead post.

1 The covering comprises an outer layer 22 and a reenforcing layer 23 or layers 23 and 82, see Figs-2, 3 and 9. The adjacent ends of the two opposite side coverings are lapped at the posts and suitably secured thereto between members I3 and I4 and members 2| and I9.

The lead post mounts on opposite sides handles 24, see Figs. 2 and 3, and nested in said lead post is the lock structure 25, see-Fig. 1, having key operable member 26, actuator 21 associated with `bolt 28 that projects from .the lead post into a notch 29 forming lock 30 in the member I8.A This bolt is released by elevating same, etc., whereupon the closure can be opened and then collapsed, as shown in Fig. 3.

In Fig..1 theclosure is shown comprised vof an upper series `of comparatively wide plates G, a lower series I-I and one or more intermediate v seriesvI, all lowerseries being of strap type, that ntermediate is notas wide as series G. The covering may be secured to eachseries or solely to the upper series as shown at J in Fig. 1 and in detail in Fig. 9.

Herein each `series of full length hinge plates terminates at each end in a pair of half length yhinge plates. The end supports for each series includes a U-shaped strap 3| suitably secured to theadjacent post at 32 and having two parallel apertured portions 33 for mounting pintle 34. The length of strap 3| is approximately equal to the depth of the hinge series to be accomvvmodated thereby.

4 taken therefrom atl 35 to provide tongue 36 pro- Qvided with vertically aligned .apertures 3'1.

In Fig'.4'a, slightly different type strap is illustrated.

` ruil length' pia.

selectively receive pivot pinprfan'chorr mounted in the lead post at 45 and thefstrap at ,31 or |131. Yoke 4G includes notch 46 `so that when the Depending there'- ployedzbelow hinges, etc.

4 are similar to the upper series Gr hinge plates. Whenever full length pintles are employed and stops are desired to prevent possible sag, friction locking washers 80, see Fig. 8, may also be em- Reference will now be had to Fig. 9 wherein the covering 22 includes reenforcing fabric 23 *stitched thereto as at 8|, which also secures a track is of exposed type, lthe trailing v'edge .of

tion is unnecessary. From the aforesaid, Vit will be noted the yoke swivels on the horizontal ,axis of pin 44 and on the afxis of shaft 39. Hence, a universal joint results for limited movement. The projection 4|, however, limits 'such movement on pin 44 to track slot width. y l

Also, the wheel and axle construction is such that rolling contact is `had on anges or] l I, while vside play of `the wheels is limited ,and rolling .wheel side contact is also had. .Also, `the tread width of the wheels equals that of ange width, notwithstanding the axle mounting of the wheel having a thickness substantially that ofl A the tread width of the wheel. This is obtained by the offsetting, as it were, in said wheelsfand the recessl'lg at `4l of member 40 for wheel hu accommodation.

Reference will now be had to Figs. 1, l5 and 6.

Herein the intermediate trolley is illustrated. It includes wheels 38, axle 3B, 4yoke .4.8 recessed at 49 for wheel hub nesting and .the depending connector portion 50,

Same includes transverse slot 5| and central...

bore 52 countersunk at 53 for pintle Ihead 54 accommodation. Access is had thereto by slot 55 to pass pintle body 55. This pintleis elongated over other central pivots to be referred to and is headed as shown, see Fig. 6. f In Fig. l the .upper lseries ,of 'hinge plates comprise half length plates 59, rib reenforced as at 60, and having .longitudinally aligned and spaced butts 6| the butts of the plates being alternated in alignment as shown andreceiving pin-tlc 34. The .latter lis peripherally groovedK as at 62 to seat a split retainer ring 6,3, two adjacentV butts being spaced apart for such accommodation.

These half hinges at each end of lthe series diverge and, see Figs. 2 and 3, termi-nate in spaced butts |54 seating pintles |55. A pair of crossed full length .hinge plates 5,6, see Fig, l, are Lnotched .as at 6l ,at thcirmidportions; and the central stock is curled or 4stIIl'--Glllled at 58 for central pintle 56 or the like reception. Such pintle'gis similarly grooyed as at 8 2\to` seat the split lock-`l` ing ring Gif desired. l These butts orparti'al butts ,are alternatedfrom theslot or Anotch associated l.pilateswhich are rib reenforced as atliil,- The half length plates are basedat '10, While the es have the central biased por-v` tions .1L j

extended the half plates interengage 0r .lock atl?. see'l'is. .2. and thus limit the extensible l, r1.0vement.

throws the plates together so the ,folds X areuni- ...form and, Arcs1l1-ffir in the covering and Samewill 'not crack? Herein, s ee Fig. l, two lower and narrower .width strap series are provided. Except ,for width,l the several plates of series: I and H *hinges4T` collapsed th' offsetting H character.

track.

secondfabric strip 82. Each hinge and half hinge position. Said prong includes transverse portion 85. Seatable inaperture 83 and connecting to coplanerscroll portion 86, which terminates in projection 8l' provided with lateral hook 88.

`Portic'm 185, .as well as the prong, is passed through webbing or anchor strip 82 at 89, while hook 88 overhangs the upper edge of the hinge plate. When .So mounted the prong 84 is positioned as shown -in full lines, `so that the connector is under tension and -frictionally locked 'to the hinge plate, but maybe forcibly detached therefrom.

' Note also strip 82, by being interposed between the clip and the hinge, silences such -contact. Also strip -23 prevents wear of covering '22 upon the clip.

Figs. 4, 6 and 8illustrate por-tions of a closure Structure applied to -an exposed and a concealed In the latter instance the top of the articulated mechanism is spaced at a greater distance Vfrom the track than 'in the former (exposed track) instance. The cover material shown in Fig. 9 is extended upwardly and top hemmed to just clear the ianges` in Fig. 6 and the same type of top hem is provided to clear the flangesl in Fig. 8. Hence the depth of this hem may be varied inaccordance with the spacingbetween the track (or ceiling) and articula-ted mechanism.

While the invention has `been illustrated and described in great detail inthe drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be yconsidered as illustrative and notv restrictive in The severalv modifications described herein as -well as others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all are considered to be within the broadl scope of the invention, reference beinghad to the appended claims.

The invention claimed yis: l. InL a foldable closure for an opening having track means therein, lead and rear posts and v`trolley means for track means engagement, the

combination of at least one series of interlaced collapsible and'extensiblestrap type hinge plates connecting said-posts, said series comprising a pair of diverging half length hinges connected tol van end post, and a plurality of ycentrally notched full length hinge plates pivotally con- "nected end to end and centrally,the end ones ofthe last mentioned-plates being connected to the half hinges, the interlaced, slotted hinged Vplateslliaving lateral intertting nestable a's- I sociation, the pivotal connections between the crossed plates including p intle nesting portions a foldable covering for same, the combination of a fabric strip secured to the covering, and clip means pressing the strip to the adjacent plate and passing through said strip and plate and overhanging both and hooking upon the latter for securing the covering to the plate.

3. In a foldable closure as defined by claim 2 wherein there is provided an intermediate fabric strip between the covering and strip for covering protection from the clip means.

4. In a foldable closure for an opening having track means therein, lead and rear posts and trolley means for track means engagement, the combination of at least one series of interlaced collapsible and' extensible strap type hinge plates connecting said posts, said series comprising a pair of diverging half length hinges connected to an end post, and a plurality of centrally notched full length hinge plates pivotally connected end to end and centrally, the end ones of the last mentioned plates being connected to the half hinges, the interlaced, slotted hinged plates having lateral intertting nestable association, the trolley means comprising track engaging means and a member depending therefrom, said member having a plurality of anchoring seats disposed parallel to the track and each other, and an anchor selectively connecting said member to the post at either of the seats for track-plate immediate proximity association.

RAY A. BRENNER.

CARROLL T. LENOX.

WILLIAM A. SHEARER.

CARROLL F. VAN BUSKIRK.

ERNEST R. WATKINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 20 1,797,802 Soss Mar. 24, 1931 2,154,860 Morse Apr. 18, 1939 2,321,507 Oberdorier June 8, 1943 2,373,146 Schearer Apr. 10, 1945 

